Improvement in revenue-guards for cigar-boxes and other packages



F. I. HOWE.

REVENUE-GUARDS FOR CIGAR-BOXES AND OTHER PACKAGES.

Patented July 3,1871.

WEN-[UK 4M WlTNE55E5 N. PErERS, PHOTO L THOGRA FRANK I. HOWE, OF MEDFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVENUE-GUARDS FORCIGAR-BOXES AhlD OTHER PACKAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,649. dated July 3, 1877 application filed February 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK I. Hown, of Medfield, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Box for Cigars and Tobacco, to prevent fraud upon the revenue, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is to provide means for detecting and preventing frauds upon the revenue in the sale of cigars and tobacco in stamped boxes, whereby the Government is secured against the fraudulent use of boxes once stamped.

The invention relates to boxes which hold the cigars or tobacco, in such a manner as to enable the contents to be inspected after the revenue-stamp has been affixed to the box without destroying the stamp, and, at the same time, to prevent the removal of the contents of the box.

The invention also consists in the employ ment of thin strips of cloth pasted upon the edges and over the joints of the box underneath the stamp, and extending beyond the edges of the same, so that the box cannot be opened for the removal of the contents without mutilating the strips and destroying the stamp.

The accompanying drawing represents a cigar-box embodying my invention.

The box A may be of any required size.

E E represent pieces or strips of thin cloth, pasted over the edges, and so as to cover the longitudinal joints in the top and bottom of the box. They are of a length sufficient to extend beyond the edges of the stamp, and wide enough to securely cover the joints and be pasted over the edges of the box. The stamp is to be pasted over and upon these strips E at each of the four edges or corners of the box. By this means any attempt to remove the cover of the box, or to open the box in any way to take out its contents, will result in the mutilation of the strips or pieces E, and the destruction of the revenue-stamp. I

The strips E serve the valuable purpose of strengthening the revenue or other stamps, and prevent their abrasion or cracking by the expansion of the box or package; also will show to the revenue-inspector that the box or package has not been opened, notwithstanding the stamp be somewhat impaired by hard usage, for, while the strips remain uncut or unbroken, there is evidence that'the box has not been violated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The method of effectually cancelingrevenuestamps applied to cigar-boxes, liquor-barrels, or other packages liable to duty, and thereby insuring the certain collection of the Government tax thereon, by means of pieces or strips of textile fabric of greater width than the stamp employed, pasted essentially over all the joints of the box or orifices of the barrel after being filled, and to which strips the stamp is cemented upon its application around the box or upon the package, substantially as described and shown, above set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK I. HOWE.

Witnesses J. H. ADAMS, GEO. W. NoRnIs.

and for the purpose 

